Vacations Blog

Girls sing during the Andersonville St. Lucia Festival of Lights

Skip the glitz of the Magnificent Mile and head to Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood for the quaint, culturally rich yuletide excursion of the  St. Lucia Festival of Lights.  You’ll hear greetings of  en riktig god jul (a very merry christmas) echo the area’s deep Swedish roots, of which the St. Lucia festival is the most dramatic.  December 13 marks  St. Lucia Day, the most significant celebration of the Swedish holiday season.  Traditionally, Swedish Christmas officially begins on Sankta Lucia, the shortest day of the year.  The eldest daughter of the household, dressed in a white robe with crimson sash and a crown of lighted candles, sings the Santa Lucia song and carries a tray of  coffee and special saffron buns.  The entire Andersonville neighborhood turns out to watch the glittering procession of  white clad girls carrying candles through the darkened streets. Read More »

Mexican folk art

Don’t think you’re stuck shopping for the same old gifts and stocking stuffers this holiday season.  A visit to  Chicago’s  National Museum of Mexican Art’s Mercado Navideno holiday market will reveal all the colorful options to spice up your shopping.  The Mercado Navideno runs November 27-29 and offers an array of authentic Mexican folk art gifts. Choose papier mache figurines, pottery, vividly-colored textiles, paintings, carvings or silver jewelry to thrill your friends and family. Don’t miss a visit to the overflowing gift store, Tienda Tzintzuntzan. Read More »

Chicago's Christkindl Market in Daley Plaza

Gliding down the Magnificent Mile and piling up credit card charges might signal  the start of the  Chicago  holiday season for some but for me, the official launch comes with  the fresh stollen, gingerbread and hot spiced wine of  the Christkindl Market. Considered one of the best German Christmas markets in the world, this open air, month-long event offers a more authentic (and cheaper)  holiday shopping experience.  Inspired by the famous Nuremburg  Christmas Market that started in 1545, the Chicago Christkindl features an official  November 25 launch by Nuremberg’s past Christkindl, a fairy-like character who wears a  shimmering, golden robe with a crown perched atop golden locks. Read More »

The Sun is Setting on Summer---My Mind is Still at the Beach

My summer is rapidly coming to a close and preparations are being made to ready my little ones for getting back to school.  But those of us fortunate enough to have taken a vacation this summer continue to long for the beach, the park, the open road, the relaxation that is, well—not work.  I have found that August, busy though it may be, is a perfect time to continue in a vacation mindset and nothing helps that better than a carefree Day-cation.

For our family, the perfect day-cation destination tends to be Read More »

The Natchez Trace Parkway runs just over 400 miles between Nashville, TN and Natchez, MS.  It is a gentle, winding road chock full of beautiful scenery, rolling hills, trees, wildlife and more interesting and historic stopping points along the route than you can possibly imagine.

The parkway follows an ancient trail that connected the southern portions of the Mississippi River, through Alabama, to central Tennessee. There are numerous ways to experience this amazing road: driving, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and camping.

How did we experience The Natchez Trace?  We just drove.  And stopped often.

The Natchez Trace Parkway is operated by the National Park Service.  There are no fees or reservations required to enter Natchez Trace Parkway which can be accessed from any of the hundreds of small cities and towns that line the outskirts of the Parkway.

A good guidebook and a map are invaluable tools while traveling the Trace.  We used a rather dated copy (1995) of a book called Traveling the Trace by Cathy and Vernon Summerlin as well as consulting the National Park Services website for maps and other information.

A few other things you’ll definitely need to be mindful of:

• The speed limit on the Natchez Trace Parkway is 50 miles per hour.  Trust me, you don’t want to go any faster or you’ll miss something spectacular.
• There are no service stations, convenience stores or lodging directly on the Natchez Trace Parkway. Keep that in mind if the tank gets low or you run out of snacks.  Fear not though, for there are countless communities just on the other side of the tree line that have everything you’ll need.
• Cell phone reception is spotty. Oh, you can get service, but it is probably going to be at the exorbitant roaming rate.
• Be mindful of the wildlife and their propensity to wander into the roadway. There is a lot of wildlife and apparently they are blind–and deaf!!
• The Natchez Trace Parkway gets very dark at night. The roadway is not lighted so unless you appreciate driving in pitch blackness, it may be a good idea to find an exit when the sun goes down.

Next time you’re vacationing anywhere near Nashville or Natchez (or literally anywhere in between) make it a point to visit the Natchez Trace Parkway.  It’s the stuff vacation memories are made of.

Flagship Steam Beer

I love the rich history of my home called San Francisco. That history brings lots of tourists every year to walk and eat their way through historic Chinatown, see the Golden Gate Bridge and have a drink at the top of the Mark Hopkins Hotel. But what I really love about my home is its underbelly, its darker side.

Besides an infamous earthquake in 1906, San Francisco’s history includes men being shanghaied, a wild Barbary Coast and Alcatraz Island. It shouldn’t surprise you then that one of my favorite things to recommend for visitors is the Anchor Steam Brewery Tour.

Anchor is the last operating brewery in San Francisco. Andrew, a guide who gives the morning tour explains to about thirty people daily, that in 1896 dozens of breweries were in the city.  I imagine this contributed to the creation of the Barbary Coast District don’t you?

Proud to be still standing...

After Prohibition ended in 1933 only Anchor Steam returned to San Francisco.

Andrew our guide

During the 1960’s Fritz Maytag, heir to the appliance company (the one with the Maytag Repairman commercials), took sole ownership of Anchor Steam. Soon after an unknown Janis Joplin flew into town to join her new band, and came on the tour. It was at the start of her career in 1966 and you’d hardly recognize her.  I’m only showing this sign rather than her image they have up because of copyright laws.

Young Janis Joplin liked the tour too!

Today Anchor Brewing has 50 employees. They produce 100,000 bottles of beer a day. You are not allowed to take photographs inside but they have a bottling area that is straight out of Laverne and Shirley, and Shotz Brewery. The tour is great for kids to learn about old school American industry. You need to call a month ahead for a reservation but the tour is free of charge. Your guide will walk you over three floors before you return to the tasting room for about 30 minutes of sampling, which is also free.

Fun facts: In case you ever wondered, the recipe for their Christmas ale is their only secret, and they change it slightly every year. “Steam” beer is an old nickname for beer brewed along the West Coast under primitive conditions and without ice.

Only steam beer made in the US

Photo credits to my iPhone…

If you aren’t concerned about the U.S. economy, then you have more money than God or you just don’t listen to the news. I think it’s safe to say that most Americans are going to be looking closer to home for their vacations this year. If this last statement rings true…then read on. I am going to tell you about Montana; a beautiful state that compliments a skinny wallet.

I am partial to western Montana. I wouldn’t say this makes me unique. It is rare to meet people who prefer the eastern half of the state. Western Montana comes as close to the notion of  “true frontier” as it gets in the ‘lower 48′. It is the 4th largest state and the 3rd least populated (or something like that). This translates into a lot of open space! With this comes a freedom to breathe and a friendliness towards your fellow man.

Combine this great attitude with stunning mountains and remote wilderness, throw in a heavy dose of character, and fierce independence, and you can come close to understanding what Montana is about.

The best part about this state, is that not a lot of tourists go. Sure, it gets a steady trickle of fly fishermen, dude ranch enthusiasts and outdoor lovers. But, for the most part, Montana is undiscovered. Because of this, the prices are low and the value is high.

You can stay at an atmospheric lodge near Glacier National park or rent a house on Flathead Lake. Flathead is a larger, colder, more stunning version of Lake Tahoe with a fraction of the people. Spend some time shopping and dining in the small liberal college towns of Missoula and Bozeman interspersed with hiking/fishing/rafting/climbing in the nearby mountains. You can even ski perfect powdery mountains in Big Sky for a fraction of what it costs in Colorado.

So, get yourself there before the secret is out!

Hiking is one of my favorite recreational activities. It isn’t just about great exercise, either. Hiking provides an opportunity to clear your head and enjoy a great conversation. You can marvel at the natural world and retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. What’s more, you can find something “walkable” almost anywhere you go and it’s absolutely free!

My favorite spot to hike in central Texas is outside the small town of Fredericksburg. As you drive through the rolling hillsides, dotted with oak and cedar, you will see a giant “bald” rock rising out of the landscape. This mountain is made of ancient pink granite and looks magnificent as well as out of place….standing sentry over the soft green landscape.

The park has many trails, but, you have to start with the climb to the top of Enchanted Rock. It is a short steep scramble up the granite. Once you reach the top and catch your breath, the view is inspiring. Gaze at the endless landscape of rolling hills and embrace the fierce wind that whips around you, carrying with it the scent of cedar and wildflowers .

Once you are done hiking, head back into the picturesque old German settlement of Fredericksburg.  Visit some tasting rooms (this is Texas’s wine country region), do some shopping in the many boutiques and antique stores that are on Main street and then indulge in some tasty German fare.

Food and wine never taste sweeter than after a hard day’s hike!

Where is your favorite place to hike?

Thanks to Krikit for the beautiful Enchanted Rock photo.